A Sabo-Yaba Chief Magistrates’ Court, in Lagos extends Seun Kuti’s remand till May 22.
The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Adeola Olatubosun, granted the application filed by the Police seeking an extension in order to engage in a proper investigation of the matter.
The application for the afrobeat singer`s further remand was moved by the Police lead counsel, Mr Simon Lough on Thursday.
Background
The jurist had earlier reported how a viral video of the Afrobeat singer surfaced online, showing him assault a police officer in uniform.
The Policeman, who was the victim of this assault was identified as inspector Mohammed Aminu.
The assault reportedly took place on May 13, 2023. at the popular Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos and attracted a lot of controversy.
While the Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba, subsequently ordered his immediate arrest.
On monday, Kuti turned himself in and was handcuffed.
On May 16, Kuti was arraigned before Magistrate Adeola Olatunbosun who ordered his remand for 48 hours before adjourning the case till May 23, 2023
however, she ordered that Kuti be admitted to bail in the sum of N1 million, with two sureties in like sum, at the end of the 48-hour remand.
Subsequently, before the 48 hours elapsed, the Police applied for more days to enable them conclude investigation.
lawyer reacts
The Police lawyer accused Kuti`s lawyer of spreading false information against them that some police officers stormed Kuti`s residence. he said the allegation was aimed at seeking solace.
in a statement by DCP Simon Lough (SAN), Head of Chambers for the Nigerian Police, he noted that Kuti was not paraded as alleged by his lawyer
”it has become imperative to correct some misrepresentations being circulated on social media solely to garner sympathy from the public and to divert attention from the fact in issue.
“First of all, there is no law that prohibits the use of handcuffs to restrain a suspect, especially a suspect that has shown tendency of violence like Seun Kuti that has already shown acts of violence by attacking and slapping a police officer in uniform and even threatening his wife in the process.
“Secondly, section 10(4) of Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Lagos State allows the taking of photographs of suspects arrested for identification and record purpose.
”The Nigeria Police equally appeals to the defence team of Seun Kuti to desist from engaging in media trial/defence of their client and allow the judicial process take its full course.”
Reacting to the police statement, Kuti’s lawyer, Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika (SAN) in a statement said the police should have honored their own advice against Media/trial/defence.
According to him, the bail granted granted to Kuti was not on the application of the police or its legal team.
He said ”it should, therefore, have occurred to you that any application to vary the bail terms, including the term that his release on bail shall be effective after 48 hours from that date (which was what you went to court today to make and obtain) cannot be ex parte but on notice to Mr Kuti’s Defence team. In your elevated position as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, you ought not to be caught in any scheme having the potential of making a mockery of the rule of law and exposing the Court administration of Justice to ridicule. Mr Kuti will say no more on this for now.
“Well, now that Mr Kuti has been put in manacles and taken on parade from one police station to another and from one location to the other across Lagos State since Monday, May 15, 2023, when exactly is he going to be charged for, as you put it in your statement, “attacking and slapping a police officer in uniform?”
“Mr. Seun Kuti is patiently waiting to be charged to court for the alleged offence so that he can offer his defence. That should not be too much for a suspect to expect. I do hope that you will use your position as a lawyer, and indeed a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, counselling the Police in this matter, to obey the order of the Magistrate Court to send the case file to the Lagos State Director of Public Prosecution for legal evaluation and possible charge and prosecution before a court of law.”
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Court’s decision
Ruling on the application, The court granted the application made by the police to further remand Kuti and ordered his remand for additional four days.